Rep. Loretta Sanchez honored fine art students from high schools throughout the 46th district at The Art Institute of California, Orange County at a ceremony earlier this month.

"This is one of my favorite events. Tonight is about the students, the next generation of creative art leaders," Sanchez said. For 17 years since she was elected to Congress, Sanchez, D-Garden Grove, has dedicated her efforts to Orange County high school art programs with the Congressional Art Competition.

"We know it takes math and art, science and music, to make a well-rounded, great piece of humanity. Art soothes the soul and speaks for our hearts," Sanchez said.

The district's high school students entered the competition for the chance to win a scholarship to attend the Art Institute of California once they graduate. More than 50 students entered their art into the competition for the 46th district this year with most of those showing in the Art Institute galleries. The first place winner will receive a trip to Washington, D.C. to see her 2D art piece hung in the Capitol building for a year.

Alan Price, dean of academic affairs at The Art Institute of California, Orange County, opened the ceremony by thanking Sanchez for giving high school students the opportunity to showcase their fine arts interests in a community setting.

"This art competition is a way for our institution to reach out to our community and to start the steps for the next generation of creators," Price said.

Sanchez thanked the community of people and businesses who made the competition possible and especially thanked the student's parents and teachers for sharing this honor with their students. She gave a special thank you to Michelle Wynne, her grants coordinator and curator for the event.

Sanchez searched for professionals in the art community to find whose art best represented this year's theme, "The Rhythm of Our Lives."

Mike Anderson, co-founder and executive vice president of Reaching Youth Through Music Opportunities, or RYTMO, was happy to see the congresswoman support youth art with this competition. As President of the board of the Orange County Symphony, Anderson's decision was influenced by the musical inspiration of students' artwork.

"To me, rhythm is music and the heart beat," Anderson said. He was also interested in the bright colors of some of the artist's work such as those in Lubna Kabir's painting, "A Spectrum of Tears."

Kabir, from Fairmont Preparatory Academy, received honorable mention for her unique representation of emotion through color and the shadow of a woman's face. Her teacher, Suzanna Byrne, who will be retiring this year, was given a special honor from Sanchez for her 30 years of dedication to the students of Orange County.

"If you're going to teach, do it from the heart. If the art program at your school is at risk of being cut, fight like hell to keep it; our country needs people who do art," Byrne said.

Richard Stein and Pat Wayne, executive and deputy directors of Arts Orange County, looked for which pieces of art met the art standards of lighting, line, color and balance while reflecting the rhythm of life.

"Digital media arts is on the rise in business in Orange County," Wayne said.

Helen Seigel, Godinez High School's painting and drawing teacher, said she chose the artwork of her most hard-working and talented students to enter into the competition.

Guests look at art displayed during the award ceremony for the Congressional Art Competition at The Art Institute in Santa Ana on May 2. ANA P. GUTIERREZ, FOR THE REGISTER
Jazmin Vergara, 17, shows her art work made out of magazine clippings during the award ceremony for the Congressional Art Competition at The Art Institute in Santa Ana. ANA P. GUTIERREZ, FOR THE REGISTER
Art by Emmanuel Rugerio is displayed during the award ceremony for the Congressional Art Competition at The Art Institute in Santa Ana. ANA P. GUTIERREZ, FOR THE REGISTER
Art by Torilyn Mundi is displayed during the award ceremony for the Congressional Art Competition at The Art Institute in Santa Ana. ANA P. GUTIERREZ, FOR THE REGISTER
Lubna Kabir explains the meaning of her art as it is displayed during the award ceremony for the Congressional Art Competition at The Art Institute in Santa Ana. ANA P. GUTIERREZ, FOR THE REGISTER
Art by Lubna Kabir is displayed during the award ceremony for the Congressional Art Competition at The Art Institute in Santa Ana. ANA P. GUTIERREZ, FOR THE REGISTER
Rep. Loretta Sanchez looks at art pieces displayed during the award ceremony for the Congressional Art Competition at The Art Institute in Santa Ana on May 02. ANA P. GUTIERREZ, FOR THE REGISTER
Students and guests listen in during the award ceremony for the Congressional Art Competition at The Art Institute in Santa Ana. ANA P. GUTIERREZ, FOR THE REGISTER
Third place winner Emmanuel Rugerio is flanked by his teacher Helen Seigel, left, and US Rep. Loretta Sanchez during the award ceremony for the Congressional Art Competition at The Art Institute in Santa Ana. ANA P. GUTIERREZ, FOR THE REGISTER
Second place winner Eunice Han poses with her teacher Gary Blackwell, left, and US Rep. Loretta Sanchez during the award ceremony for the Congressional Art Competition at The Art Institute in Santa Ana. ANA P. GUTIERREZ, FOR THE REGISTER
US Rep. Loretta Sanchez holds up art work from first place winner Torilyn Mundi of Loara High School during the award ceremony for the Congressional Art Competition at The Art Institute in Santa Ana. ANA P. GUTIERREZ, FOR THE REGISTER
Jacqueline Hernandez holds her art work as she poses with her parents Florencio and Maricela during the award ceremony for the Congressional Art Competition at the The Art Institute in Santa Ana. ANA P. GUTIERREZ, FOR THE REGISTER

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